History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]

As a disclaimer, I was born in Poland but I grew up abroad so I wasn't influenced so much in my life by Polish culture... My father is liberal and tolerant towards both Russians and Ukrainians, but my mother can have some stereotypical views especially when it comes to Ukrainians.

In general I think Polish people are becoming more tolerant, but some others (especially the older generation) can still resent Russians and Ukrainians.

As for me, my best friend is from Donetsk. She understands me like very few people can, and I consider her one of the best friends I've had in my life. It drives me nuts when my mother sometimes comments that I should be "careful" about her, or when I hear her stories about how badly she's treated by other Polish people (who look down on her because they assume she's poor or doesn't deserve respect.)

I don't know many Russians, but I love Russian culture. I wanted to study Russian literature - Dostoyevsky is my favourite writer - but I didn't know Russian fluently so I studied English literature instead.

I think Poles have a lot more in common with Russian culture than they do with other countries that are in the EU, and they should be proud to be Slavs and proud of their heritage. There is still too much resentment left over from World War II, and Polish people don't realise how badly many Russians suffered under Communism, too.

History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]


One time when my mother was here visiting, I invited them all (my mom and my friend from Donetsk,) out to a nice restaurant. Since I was inviting them, I assumed everyone knew that I would be paying. At the end of the meal, I paid, and neither of them offered to chip in or leave a tip. After we left, my mom asked why my friend hadn't offered to pay, and she told me to "be careful about her" because some Ukrainians can be sly about squeezing money out of people.

My aunt also warned me about her... I asked why, and she said it was because the Ukrainians "did a lot of bad things to Poles" during the war. I didn't ask her to elaborate.

History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]


Does this effect what you think of the Ukrainian people today? Just curious.

News / 2012 - 2013 Will be the most severe Polish winter. [38]

I'm leaving Poland in December :D

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


It's not only about pleasing men... it's also about personal hygiene.

History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]

I have no idea... I don't know what UPA is.

But older people talk about the war a lot. It was so traumatic for them that I think they'll never get over it, and they constantly think about it even today.

My grandma loves to repeat this story about how her "true love" was shot down by Ukrainians... he was supposedly heartbroken because she refused to kiss him or marry him, and he ran straight into some Ukrainians because he wanted to die. I told her anybody in the world would shoot a guy down if he was from the opposing army and running towards them. But she loves to tell the story anyways, and sometimes she talks about how the Ukrainians were particularly brutal when they killed Poles.

I never really thought about the Ukrainians much, and I had no opinion of them, but now I have a best friend from there and those stories **** me off.

So one part of me thinks I should read and get to know more about my country's history, because I didn't grow up here and I didn't study history in a Polish school.

Another part of me knows that I don't have to read anything.

I already know that what my grandma says about them is ********.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


Who said anything about shaving? I'm talking about wax. Never had problems wish rashes or infections.

Why would I trim it? I like how smooth my skin is when it's waxed. Sex is better, and I feel a lot cleaner.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


If you're allergic to wax, then I'd say... don't wax.


I'll do whatever I please with my body, but thanks for your opinion.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


But if you're clean according to yourself, then why does it matter what I think?


I don't like hairy guys, ergo I have a subconscious attraction to prepubescent boys? Good to know

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]

I was about to tell you about your great sense of humour, maturity and taste in men, but then I remembered you don't care what I think.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]

It's lame to say your own hair is for hygiene, and anybody who doesn't like it is paedofile. Too much pop psychology and insecurities, sweetie.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


Based on your repeated posts about how it's not beautiful or sanitary to shave, and how shaving can lead to infections, and how soap and water are enough... no, I'm sure nobody has a clue what yours looks like.


You were able to tell me that I'm probably 19 because I get waxed... so you figure out how people make stupid judgments if you're not able to pick up on sarcasm.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


And you've commented on this thread, and I made the assumption that you've got bad taste in men, poor personal hygiene, no sense of humour and no ability to distinguish sarcasm. You also said you were allergic to wax, and then complained that the beauty parlour refused to wax you. From that I deduce that you're either not very bright, or you're making things up to prove your point, or you have problems with getting the chronology straight in your anecdotes. I've also made the assumption that you are a product of Polish culture, because I don't understand your attempts at humour and find them juvenile.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


No, those are the reasons why I don't like you.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


I respond to b-tchy comments in a b-tchy way.

You may not believe it, but I don't wax to please men. I do it because it feels clean and nice, and I like it. I also wear perfume to bed, even when I'm alone. Does doing nice things for yourself always have to involve a man?

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


Well he's now re-directed his attentions to a certain un-waxed woman, and is now discussing laser removal options with her. Let me guess, you're not going to call HER a hussy for saying she's got thick hair because of a hormonal imbalance, are you?

See that's your stereotype. I'm not classy because I wax, and everybody else who's talking about tehir hair... well they're just normal, modest and independent Polish women.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


By the way, I'm hardly alone in not liking the city or finding its residents ... peculiar. The fact people in Warsaw are arrogant has been so widely observed that it has blossomed into a national stereotype. There are songs asking trains to go anywhere but Warsaw, and even my own mother (when she visits) doesn't want to go anywhere around here besides the Old Town.


I'm not the Tourism Ministry... I don't have to promote anything.

If you find talk about waxing and shaving offensive, then don't read.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


By the way, have you tried sugar waxing? Can't imagine you're allergic to water, lemons or caramelized sugar. It's also less painful than traditional waxing, but you have to find a place where they know what they're doing.


I didn't notice it either at first. It's all fun and games when you visit, but try living here for a couple years and you'll understand why the folks in Krakow have those stereotypes about the capital.

Love / What differences is there among Polish girls and British girls as girlfriends? [102]


The woman was asking what she should do, because she's allergic to wax. People were replying to her. That's how forums work, and that's what they're here for.

History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]

Hey Vlad (if you're Ukrainian) and anybody else who can tell me, I'm curious what Ukrainians think about Polish people?

I was talking to my friend from Donetsk today, and she said some Ukrainians consider Poles argumentative.

What the hell! Are you guys KIDDING me?

No, seriously :) Can you tell me the stereotypes? She didn't want to tell me any more, but I'd be interested to know. I'll keep in mind that it's only a minority of Ukrainians that think badly about Poles. And since I told you some Polish stereotypes about Ukrainians, maybe any of you can return the favour?

History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]


My friend works here and she says she runs up against stereotypes regularly, so your friend is probably right.


So Polish society is boring for you because it's so similar to Ukrainian culture?

I think it's boring because Poland is trying too hard to be European, or a part of the EU, and they forget that they're Slavs, not Protestants. We're closer to Moscow in our culture than we are to Brussels, but Polish people are too ashamed to admit that. It's like we're trying to be something we're not, and throwing away the common Slavic heritage all because of some war cr-p. That's just my opinion. It's like how Dostoyevsky thought in his days that Russia was forgetting its own culture and being too easily swayed by Western European ideas. Maybe we've got an inferiority complex?

Work / Advise on moving to Poland-Cracow (working for an international company in Krakow) [22]

And they have shisha.

Work / Advise on moving to Poland-Cracow (working for an international company in Krakow) [22]

Here, this time I read your post and have some real advice:


I don't know where you live now, but there are a lot of things you should consider. Would this move to Krakow be permanent, or would you just help out in the opening and leave? Are they offering you less money for Krakow than you're making in your current position? If you have a young kid, how much do you know about Poland and what it might be like to raise a kid here?


The average monthly salary in Poland is about 3,000 zloty, so you would be making twice the national average. It's enough for a good and comfortable life if you're smart with your money.

Who told you it costs 3,000 zloty for an apartment in Krakow? That seems very high to me. I pay 1,000 zloty for 50 sq metres in Warsaw, and I live in the city centre. (I'm renting from a friend of the family, but I'm just saying it's possible to find a bargain like this and 3,000 zloty for Krakow is WAY too high.)

I did a search for two-room apartments in Krakow (dwupokojowe means two-room.) Look at the prices:

mieszkania.trovit.pl/do-wynajecia-mieszkanie-dwupokojowe-krak%C3%B3w


That depends where you're living now and how much money you're making. I wouldn't make a big move like this, especially if you've got family, unless it really means a step up for you.

Work / Advise on moving to Poland-Cracow (working for an international company in Krakow) [22]


I'm getting a good deal, but quite a few people are in this city. Just takes patience and time to hunt around. I was paying 1,600 in Wola when I first moved here...

Just saying he was told 2,800 for two rooms, and I think that's outrageous. You say 2k, but I figure he can find a decent place for 1,600 if he makes a good effort.

Work / Advise on moving to Poland-Cracow (working for an international company in Krakow) [22]


Harry, I never lie :)

The lady i rent from has had this apartment since at least the 1970s, but I never asked about further history or details... I also didn't mention that it's old. It's an old kamienica, and one of the few buildings that survived the war. I had a very old laundry machine when I first moved in (it broke, and now I have a new one,) very worn wooden floors, leakage stains on the ceiling that need a paint job, old windows that I have to stuff with towels during the cold winters, an old bathtub that I have to crouch in to wash.

I don't mind all that stuff, I love it here and the location can't be beat. But I was told (by the owner) that most Poles who view the place run fast when they see there are no modern conveniences and appliances, hence the low price.


Did you look at the link? I'm not seeing Nowa Huta, and I'm seeing prices way under 2k.

All the foreigners I know make a good effort. I also know Arabs here and in Krakow who are very successful and work hard (no, not at kebab restaurants.) That's why I've gone to the trouble to reply at length to this guy.

Language / What has been the hardest language for you to learn? [81]

Here are all the languages I've studied, from hardest to easiest to learn:

Arabic
French
English
German
Russian

Age of the learner makes a huge difference: I learned German and English when I was very young, and Russian was easy because it's so similar to Polish.

I could add Polish to the list: I was born in Poland, but I had to re-learn Polish when I returned here. I could put it somewhere in the middle of my list: it was not that difficult, but I would not call it easy. Especially the different word endings, which I still struggle with.

Language / What has been the hardest language for you to learn? [81]

It was easy for me because I learned it when I was young, in an English-speaking country.

Arabic and French, for example, I studied mostly from books.

History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]


Russia has also looked West at certain times in her history. It's not all about religion.

It's the language, the shared history, culture. It's the fact that Warsaw looks a lot more like Moscow than like Brussels, and the fact Poles are more similar to Russians in character.


No, it's not introspection. It's the resentment we still have because Russia is more powerful than us and has waged wars and occupied us, coupled with the mistaken notion that they consider us a threat to them.


So? Tchaikovsky (whose father had Polish and Ukrainian blood) lived in Lake Geneva, Rachmaninov lived in New York.

Work / Advise on moving to Poland-Cracow (working for an international company in Krakow) [22]


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_in_Europe_by_monthly_average_wage

Language / What has been the hardest language for you to learn? [81]

My second language was German. Later I learned English and forgot German, and still spoke Polish (although very little) with my parents at home. I basically had to learn most of Polish over again when I came back to Poland :)